If you've traveled anywhere around the city this summer, you've been greeted with plenty of blooming plants. Wisconsin Rapids' downtown and city entrances have been decorated with hanging baskets and planters to beautify the city.

It's working.

"When I walk down the street, it's like, 'Wow, those are pretty, absolutely pretty,'" said Robin Koeshall, who owns a business on Oak Street. "They look beautiful."

It's working so well, that American In Bloom judges visited to provide a report with suggestions for future project ideas and general comments on the current efforts. The nonprofit organization promotes "beautification through education and community involvement by encouraging the use of flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements," according to its website.

The enhancements are part of the Mayor's Council on Beautification, which was organized this spring.

Another aspect of the beautification is planting flowering crab trees, also called Hopa trees. At one time, Wisconsin Rapids was known for the trees that lined the river and bloomed in spring, usually at the same time as the city's Hopa Tree Art Festival. While many of the trees were removed, we're pleased the city will plant new ones. We look forward to seeing those pink blossoms again decorate our community.

How to get involved

• Community volunteers are needed to water the flower baskets along West Grand Avenue on weekends in September and October. The watering takes about two hours a day. The only requirement is that the volunteers have a trailer hitch. Call Sue Wesley at 715-423-5810 for more information.

• The Mayor's Council on Beautification is open to anyone wishing to get involved. The council typically meets at 4:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at City Hall.

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Things just keep getting better for a shih tzu named Oscar. The stray was picked up in Port Edwards and taken to the South Wood County Humane Society. His fur was long and matted, and his nails needed a trim. A volunteer groomer transformed him with a Mohawk. Soon, he was adopted by Karen Delis of Auburndale.

"He jumped into my arms and started kissing me, and they said it looked like he adopted you already," Delis said about meeting Oscar at the shelter.

When Bridget Chariton, executive director for the shelter heard about the Wahl Pets Dirty Dog contest, she remembered Oscar and how he cleaned up. She contacted Delis, and now Oscar is in the running for cash prizes for the shelter. Winners are determined by website and Facebook votes. First place takes home $5,000, second place receives $2,000 and third place earns $1,000. Winners will be announced the first week in August. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. July 31.

"This is kind of cool, because here we saved Oscar, and in a way he's giving back to the shelter," Chariton said.